Hello and I hope everyone had a great trapping season. At the time of this writing 2 out of 3 fur auctions have been completed, and the Bulls Gap fur auction is coming up soon. Be sure to reserve a table with Lora Daniel one week prior to the sale. The location for this auction is at the VFW building again, and if anyone has any questions about the sale you can contact myself or John Daniel.

TFHA would like to send out a big Thank you to all the Fur Buyers that have and will attend our fur auctions, thanks for attending and it wouldn’t go as well with out you!

Here are the results for our first fur auction at Crossville TN:

TFHA Fur sale, Crossville TN Jan 22th 2011

Listed by species, # of, high and avg

Coyote — 42, $22.00, $8.84

Red Fox — 24, $23.00, $17.64

Gray Fox — 20, $20.00, $16.90

Bobcat — 23, $48.00, $31.04

Otter — 11, $44.50, $27.50

Beaver (green) — 54, $10.00, $3.88

Beaver (finish) — 30, $20.00, $7.04

Raccoon — 252, $20.00, $4.06

Mink — 8, $13.00, $8.09

Muskrat — 76, $7.50, $4.90

Skunk — 14, $22.00, $5.53

Opossum — $2.25, $1.14

Total — $4676.01

Results for the South Pittsburg sale:

TFHA Fur sale, South Pittsburg Jan 29th 2011

Listed by species, # of, high and avg

Coyote — 41, $19.00, $9.10

Red Fox — 7, $22.00, $19.86

Gray Fox — 35, $18.00, $14.17

Bobcat — 13, $52.00, $43.12

Otter — 27, $55.00, $35.24

Beaver — 85, $15.00, $7.31

Raccoon — 92, $13.50, $3.59

Mink — 13, $17.00, $11.13/$7.88(m/f)

Muskrat — 72, $10.00, $5.13

Skunk — $2.50, $1.70

Opossum — $1.75, $1.40

Total — $4,049.75

We will have the fur auction in South Pittsburg TN at least one more year, hopefully we can get a better turn out as it grows. Next year we will have it closer to the end of the season to help out GA and AL trappers with an option to sale at seasons end. This should draw a larger crowd from those states next year. Thanks goes out to Jackie Malone for helping represent the State of Alabama by attending the auction. Thanks Jackie, hopefully we can get more members from the states to show their support also, as well as bring their fur.

TFHA Rocky Top Certificate winners are as follows: Crossville – Steve Maynard, Paul Antczak, Joe Hawkins, Tony Bales, Mike Roberts and Jerel Campbell. South Pittsburg – Allen Rogers, Larry Frady, Doug Price, Derek Delaney, Paul Antczak. Congratulations to the winners, and keep in mind you have a chance to receive a TFHA Rocky Top hat after all sales are final and you have the highest paid price for fur species. Now that Spring is just around the corner, and I for one am ready for warmer temps, our Spring meet is coming up. This year we are partnering with GA, and if anyone has any questions feel free to contact John Daniel or myself. You should the information pertaining to the event in the Newsletter that was sent out last month. It will take place at Harrison St Park on April 15th.

The South East Regional NTA Convention will be here before you know it as well, and we will have a booth setup also. We can use a few volunteers to help “man” the booth, so if you are planning on attending and can sit in for a short while please contact me via email or phone, or just stop by the booth and give some one a break for an hour or so to check out the convention as well. Thanks in advance.

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact me at 731 614-2531 or email at jlord2003@aol.com. Also, check out the web site at tfhaonline.net. We have had quite a few new members sign up to the web site lately and we are glad to have you.

— James Lord

VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT

I hope this report finds everyone well.Two of our three fur sales are behind us now with only bulls gap remaining. The bulls gap sale will be march 5th.

With spring around the corner its time to think about our spring meet at Harrison Bay State Park near Chatt. April 15-17 There be more info and directions in the spring news letter. Remember the Ga. Trappers Association will be our guest at this event. The Hiwassee Trapper training camp is scheduled for May 20-22. Don’t forget our trailer drive to raise money for a hall of fame trailer.

Thanks to everyone who helped out with the first two fur sales it takes a lot of effort from a lot of people to put one of these sales on. The whole purpose of these sales is to provide trappers an opportunity to sell their fur without shipping it. The only thing these volunteers get for their effort is your gratitude so when you see them be sure to thank them for all they put into it. Hope to see you at Bulls Gap in March.

— John Daniel

SECRETARY’S REPORT

Hello everyone, I hope trapping has been going good this season. We have one more fur sale coming up March 5,2011 at Bulls Gap. If anyone has questions about the fur sale or want to sell your fur, you can contact Lora Daniel or James Lord. Thanks to all who helped out during our fur sales. Let’s not forget the buyers too, thanks for coming to our sales.

If anyone is planning an event of some kind, please let me know so I can put it in the upcoming mail-outs. Thanks.

— Lora Daniel

NTA DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Wow it doesn’t seem possible that almost year has gone by since the 2010 N.T.A. Leadership Conferences , but the 2011 conferences are just around the corner. The southeastern conference will be held this year in Chatt. Tenn. in April. These meetings are open to everyone so anyone interested in attending its not to early to start making your plans to attend.

Some of you may be aware the that a group called negotiations is over posted names contact information and some pictures of state officers on their web site and encouraged harassment of trappers across the country. One of our members was one of the individuals pen pointed on their web site. If you or any of your family is contacted by this group contact the proper authorities and file a report. This years N.T.A. South Eastern Convention will be held in Mississippi and the National Convention will be in Columbia Missouri its not to early to make plans to attend.

The N.T.A. has started a new benefits package for it’s members, upon renewal of your 2011 membership or if you are a new member you will receive a coupon book. This book contains discounts for various merchants in it and there is hundreds of dollars of potential savings depending on how much you take advantage of. Be sure to look for it.

The Directors of National and International Affairs will be attend a meeting on the delisting of wolves in Washington D.C. in Feb. This issue could have impact in the future on how recovered species across the country is handled. Be sure to let your Representative know how you want them to stand on this issue.

I hope everyone has had a great trapping season and hope to see you at Bulls Gap.